Defense had moved the puck D to D and is
looking for quick up on option.

3

Forward has left the wall on the overlap
and you are moving into his position.

4

Opposition players have left ice on dump
in and you want to capitalize on open wide side passing lane by defense.

5

Goal-tender is moving puck up ice
quickly on dump in.

6

Quick reverse in the neutral zone has
caught opposition forecheck off guard creating open ice.

7

Draw defense into neutral zone pinch on
wide side so as to create odd man attack.

Primary Teaching Point:

Moving
into an open lane is the most important fundamental in creating
offensive opportunities. Moving to the wall quickly creates outlet wide
which in turn creates open ice in the"seam" due to checking
players moving to the outside.CAN / DO YOU?:

1

Possess the necessary short game
acceleration skills to get into position quickly?

X

V

G

F

P

2

Possess the necessary backward
acceleration skills to get into position quickly?

X

V

G

F

P

3

Possess the pivoting skills necessary to
face puck while moving into position?

X

V

G

F

P

4

Possess the necessary read skills to
recognize role movement into correct lane?

X

V

G

F

P

5

Can you relax under pressure and select
next outlet or play option?

X

V

G

F

P

6

Able to control missed pass on hurried
up if in skates?

X

V

G

F

P

7

Able to receive and control hard passes
to forehand side (while stationary)?

X

V

G

F

P

8

Able to receive and control hard passes to backhand side
(while stationary)?

X

V

G

F

P

9

Able to move puck quickly after
reception?

X

V

G

F

P

10

Able to read off the lines - holding up
or moving up to maximize space (blue to blue or hold up on center to
eliminate off-side)?

X

V

G

F

P

Item No. 2 -Stop in
position / did not wander (read play / supported correctly)

X

V

G

F

P

Possible reasons for this option are:

1

Opposition players are aggressive on the
forecheck creating back side options and outside outlets.

2

Anticipating supporting player movement
– ready to move on overlap.

3

Having eyed up with defense – knowing
that the puck will come to you after selling option and diverting
fore-checker.

4

Opposition players have dumped puck in
deep and have anticipated line change.

5

Running a set play and waiting for it to
be executed since puck has turned over.

6

Knowing that puck movement will
ultimately create best option to you – puck carrier needs to know where
you are.

7

Puck carrier is under high pressure
forecheck from opposition - and he needs to know where you are when he get
his head up (minimize time to select option).

Primary teaching point

:When team-mates are under pressure - predictability for visual
assessment and subsequent outlet play is critical so as to minimize time
to select proper option and move the puck. Puck carrier knows that you
will be in the proper position so quick positional identification is all
that is necessary as opposed to scanning to find outlet option.CAN / DO YOU:

1

Do you recognize when your team-mates
are in trouble?

X

V

G

F

P

2

Do you know proper positional
assignments?

X

V

G

F

P

3

Play with head on a swivel to identify
opposition pressure?

X

V

G

F

P

4

Communication verbally or visually with
your team-mates so as to provide passive support?

Opposition players turned puck over at your
blue-line and you are trying to catch their defense on a bad line change.

Primary teaching point:

Playing the lines (zone width and depth) is critical to maximizing passing
lanes. While forcing opposition to stretch out defensive coverage - zone
depth maximizes work to opportunities created ratio by letting the puck do
the work.CAN / DO YOU:

1

Have good visual awareness to read off
play to maximize zone depth?

X

V

G

F

P

2

Read off the play accordingly?

X

V

G

F

P

3

Know when to read off transition so as
to capitalize on opportunity?

X

V

G

F

P

4

Possess quick acceleration so as to
stretch zone (from center to far blue-line) as defenseman jumps to cross
his own blue-line?

X

V

G

F

P

Item No. 4 - Keep puck deep if no option

X

V

G

F

P

Possible reasons for this option are:

1

Opposition is weak forming offensive
attack off of forecheck.

2

You have momentum and do not want to
risk bad turnover at opposition blue-line.

3

Keep contact play for intimidation.

4

Trying to draw penalty off of high
pressure forecheck.

5

Force goal-tender to handle puck.

6

Your team has the lead and you do not
want to create a bad turnover.

7

Opposition is weak on the breakout – poor defensemen
or weak on the wall.

8

Trying to run down the clock (penalty or
end of period).

9

Your team is weak on transition (offense
to defense).

Primary teaching point

: It
is critical to understand the difference between a low risk and a high
risk option especially when your team has momentum. Dumping the puck into
the opposition’s zone forces them to be creative and read off your team’s
forechecking pressure. In the event that their breakout system is
predictable, it increases the success of turnovers inside their zone on
which you can capitalize. CAN / DO YOU:

1

Read options so as to understand when to
keep puck deep and when to maintain possession?

X

V

G

F

P

2

Know dump in options (corners, end
wall, on net, etc) so as to maximize teams effectiveness off forecheck?

X

V

G

F

P

3

Possess quick puck release skills?

X

V

G

F

P

Item No. 5 -Head man puck (did not over-handle puck)

X

V

G

F

P

Possible reasons for this option are:

1

Take advantage of speedy forwards.

2

Capitalize on slow defensemen.

3

Keep pressure on opposition (maintaining
attack pressure).

4

Keep game momentum – no face-offs
because of off-sides.

5

Keep players moving into open lanes as opposed to
overloading to support puck carrier.

Play board angles (near and far side) so
receiver can skate onto puck?

X

V

G

F

P

Item No. 6- Finish all
checks along wall

X

V

G

F

P

Possible reasons for this option are:

1

Opposition is making plays from outside
– intimidation.

2

Opposition regroups puck well –
eliminates man

3

Break up opposition’s team continuity
– by eliminating one player.

4

Your team gets motivated from contact.

5

Create opportunity for retaliation –
draw penalty.

6

Star opposition player is delayed from
joining play.

Primary teaching point

:
By finishing all checks along the wall you effect the mental state of the
puck carrier. This in effect takes away the time that he has to make a
play. As will, it eliminates him from quickly joining the play. CAN
/ DO YOU?

1

Play aggressive?

X

V

G

F

P

2

Possess the timing to set up the hit?

X

V

G

F

P

3

Possess the balance necessary to control
the hit and not leave your feet?

X

V

G

F

P

4

Possess the skating skills necessary to
be effective?

X

V

G

F

P

5

Maintain discipline if opposition player
retaliates?

X

V

G

F

P

6

Hit on the defensive side of the check?

X

V

G

F

P

Item No. 7 - Push attacking forwards off-side to get
whistle

X

V

G

F

P

Possible reasons for this option are:

1

Take away opposition’s speed through the
neutral zone.

2

Break team’s momentum –
force face-off.

3

Initiate opposition
frustration – (broken play several occasions).

4

Frustration - possible penalty as a result.

Primary teaching point

:
By pushing attacking forwards off-side, opposition is forced to slow their
attack through the neutral zone which allows for better defensive
posturing. As well, it forces them to either turn over puck control by
dumping in or regrouping. Another benefit is that it forces the opposition
lead forwards to flat line skate (cut parallel to the blue-line) which it
turn limits space above the line. CAN / DO YOU:

1

Possess read and react skills to
anticipate opposition player movement?

X

V

G

F

P

2

Possess speed to keep tight gap on
offensive forward?

X

V

G

F

P

3

Possess strength to push offensive
forward offside?

X

V

G

F

P

4

Communicate well with defense so as
understand man on man coverage or defensive responsibilities?

X

V

G

F

P

5

Like to initiate physical contact to frustrate
opposition players?

X

V

G

F

P

Item No. 8- Used defense
well (back pass) on regroup

X

V

G

F

P

Possible reasons for this option are:

1

Neutral zone is overloaded – need to
open up passing lanes.

2

Opposition has poor neutral zone
forecheck.

3

Need to create puck movement to open up
passing lanes for speedy forwards.

4

Want to maintain puck control –
protecting lead.

Primary teaching point

:
It is necessary to move puck backwards to open up neutral zone allowing
forwards to reposition themselves as opposition moves into forechecking
role. Mistakes are often made off of neutral zone defensive regrouping by
opposition forwards off of back check, the result of opposition players
turning back hard against the grain due to the counter shift in flow,
facing defense and showing backs to receivers. CAN
/ DO YOU:

1

Play with head on a swivel in the
neutral zone?

X

V

G

F

P

2

Pass back accurately and crisply so that
defense can in turn move puck quickly?